Matt,

I am not talking about jib trim, but at what angle the boat is sailed to the wind. I assume correct jib trim, but you can foot or point the boat itself within the range the sails allow without stalling. I hope that was a bit clearer, but I am not certain..
Do you aim to always sail with the jib telltales streaming horizontally?

yes for square top sails, but should occur on the top tell tales only. The idea is that you want to have an elliptic lift distribution which has minimum induced drag. Since the square top sail is not elliptic shaped, you have to reduce the lift in the top by twisting, which leads to stalling windward telltales.

Cheers,

Klaus

Rolf,

I have also heared (and I sail like this) that you better have the windward tell tales at 45° when you're trapping out. Otherwise I sail them flowing for more pressure.

Concerning the main, I only look at the tell tales at the luff (back) of the sail at the top 3 battens. Do you guys look to the entire mainsail? (I don't think I have time to look at them all :-) )

Gill

yes, I use the tell tales 1/3 aft of the luff and those at the leach over the full height. I sail only uni and look very often to them.

Cheers

I have teltails on my mast.........